Rubiales: "Spanish society will be proud of the important legacy that this bid leaves for History"
The president of the RFEF highlights the importance of including Ukraine in the 2030 World Cup project.
Luis Rubiales expressed his immense satisfaction having now Ukraine as a partner in this exciting experience on a historic day for the bid promoted by Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup. It is a proposal supported by UEFA and it was made official on Tuesday in Nyon. "It is no longer the Iberian Candidature, it is now the European Candidature," said the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation in his speech.
After the introduction by Fernando Gomes, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Rubiales took the floor to highlight the value of inviting Ukraine to this project. "This bid has many things to gain: history, wonderful stadiums, gastronomy, tourism, among others. Today we are taking another step forward: together we represent the powerful impact that football has on society. We believe that this bid is much better now”.
🇪🇸🇵🇹🇺🇦🎙️
— RFEF (@rfef) October 5, 2022
❝Cada uno de nosotros representamos a nuestros países por separado, pero juntos representamos el poder de transformación que el futbol tiene en la sociedad❞
— 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, Presidente de la RFEF.#Vamos2030 pic.twitter.com/aPA4hMjqeZ
The presidents of the RFEF and the FPF understood that they could not turn their backs on such a tragic event as the one the Ukrainian people are suffering. They added that they could send a message of hope and prosperity through football. "I am convinced that in my country, in Spain, both the football family and society will be proud of the important legacy that this bid leaves for history," Rubiales stated. "If football changes people's lives, it must also be effective in improving the world".
🇪🇸🇵🇹🇺🇦🎙️
— RFEF (@rfef) October 5, 2022
❝Estoy convencido de que toda la sociedad española estará orgullosa del legado tan importante que esta candidatura deja para la historia❞
— 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, Presidente de la RFEF.#Vamos2030 pic.twitter.com/VfewaF8PDi
Rubiales, who highlighted the involvement of the Government and the Royal Family in this initiative, restated his commitment to Ukrainian society by inviting him to be part of the bid: "Fernando and I, in Portugal and in Spain, see how friends and families welcome tens of thousands of exiles who are now out of their country. I am convinced that these children will remember this historic moment. They will grow up with the hope, which is a beautiful word, that peace will come one day. We are satisfied if football can help in any way, even if it is 1%
Andriy Pavelko, president of the Ukrainian Football Association, thanked Portugal and Spain for the invitation and pledged to live up to such an ambitious bid.
